The Detroit Lions were back on the practice field Thursday for their fifth practice of organized team activities, and the second in which the media was allowed to attend. It will likely be the last open session until mandatory minicamp, which begins on Tuesday, June 4.
Before practice, some coaches were made available to the media, including head coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The latter of the two went into great detail about not becoming a head coach in 2024, something we've covered in our takeaways below.
Also included in the takeaways is the participation report, rookie corner Terrion Arnold making a standout play and an update on the kicker battle which features two very different takes on what took place on the practice field between James Turner and Michael Badgley.
MORE: Lions' concern levels on defense
Check out those takeaways and more as we go over the key points from the Lions' latest open practice of organized team activities on Thursday.
Lions OTAs takeaways
Who was absent?
According to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, the list of players who did not take part on Thursday included left tackle Taylor Decker, center Frank Ragnow, guard Kevin Zeitler, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, defensive lineman DJ Reader, outside linebacker Marcus Davenport, cornerback Carlton Davis III, linebacker Alex Anzalone, defensive back Brian Branch and safety Kerby Joseph.
Adding to that list, Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit reports that wide receiver Antoine Green, guard Christian Mahogany, defensive lineman Kyle Peko and cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley, Carlton Davis and Craig James did not practice, either.
Of the players on those lists, Gibbs, Decker, Ragnow, Davenport and Branch did not take part at the last open practice, and Joseph was limited last week. The new additions are Zeitler, Mahogany, Peko, Moseley, Davis and James.
Terrion Arnold grabs a pick
Lions first-round pick and cornerback Terrion Arnold nabbed his second interception of the offseason on a pass from quarterback Jared Goff, who promptly gave the rookie props for the play.
I see this is already turning into an anti-Goff conversation so let me just say:
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) May 30, 2024
A. Arnold made a really nice play on the ball to rip it away
B. Overreacting to a single play during an OTA practice in May does not seem like the best use of one’s time
Unfortunately, it occurred during team period when recording is not allowed, so we don't have a clip. Arnold previously had an interception during rookie minicamp.
Kicker update
We have a few different views on the kicker battle. The first comes from Lions Wire's Jeff Risdon, who praised kicker Michael Badgley for a strong day while noting that UDFA kicker James Turner struggled a bit:
Badgley shut down any questions about his leg strength with a boomer of a day at Lions OTAs on Thursday. On a cloudless 70-degree day with a light cross breeze, Badgley nailed eight attempts in a row from at least 53 yards. He concluded with a 61-yard success from the right hash mark that would have been good from at least 2-3 more yards.
The day didn’t start great for Badgley. He missed his first attempt from 48 yards wide right, and also yanked a 50-yarder to almost the exact same spot–about 3 ball lengths wide right. After that, Badgley did not miss on his final 18 (by my count) attempts from ranges of 45 and beyond.
Undrafted rookie James Turner wasn’t as successful, though he did show a very strong leg in drilling a 55-yarder right down the middle. He missed two of three at one point, all from 48-52 yards.
Then, there was Twentyman's review, which told a different story:
Kicking competition: It was a rough day for Badgley overall as he missed both of his field goal attempts in team periods. He was short from 54 yards and wide right from 52. During OTAs they give both kickers a chance from the same distance in situational periods. Turner made both kicks from 54 and 52 yards.
You be the judge.
Minor skirmishes break out
Things apparently got a bit heated during practice, per Twentyman:
Tempers flare: There were a couple minor skirmishes between offensive and defensive linemen in the first 11-on-11 team period. After the second one, head coach Dan Campbell stopped practice and brought everyone in to have a little talk. No more shenanigans followed. Defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson was asked about it after practice and he said it's part of 'changing the mindset' on defense.
Beef breaking out at an NFL practice is nothing new, but good on head coach Dan Campbell for settling things down.
Hendon Hooker has uneven day
Twentyman noted that second-year signal-caller Hendon Hooker had an "up and down day":
He missed a couple throws over the middle he'll like back when he sees them on tape, but he also showed terrific touch on a sideline pass to running back Jake Funk and hit a tight window throw to wide receiver Daurice Fountain over the middle for a completion. Hooker ran a nice situational period putting the offense in field goal range after starting from his own 37 with one minute and 19 seconds on the clock. Hooker has received all the second-team reps in the two open OTA practices so far.
After not playing at all last season as he worked his way back from a torn ACL, this should be looked at as basically a rookie season for Hooker. Knowing that, growing pains should be expected.
Goff and Williams showing chemistry
According to Twentyman:
Goff and Williams hooked up early in practice during a 7-on-7 period deep down the right sideline for a touchdown. Williams showed off that terrific speed beating cornerback Kindle Vildor and making a nice over-the-shoulder catch. It earned a fist bump from Goff after Williams crossed the goal line. The two later connected on a 29-yard pass in a situational team period that helped set up a field goal.
Ben Johnson breaks silence
Johnson went into great detail about not becoming a head coach in 2024.
"I think when it boils down to it, I want the sun to shine a little bit longer. That's really what it comes down for me," Johnson said, per ESPN's Eric Woodyard. "I like the sunshine. I like what we've built here, starting with ownership, the head coach and the GM on down.
"We have a great group of guys in the locker room, and I want to reap the rewards with them a little bit longer."
"I'm not gonna do it just to do it. I love what I'm doing right now. Love it," he added. "I love where I'm at. My family loves where we're at. Love the people that we're doing it with, so I'm not willing to go down the other path yet, unless I feel really good about how it's gonna unfold."
Johnson also touched on some of the negative press he received about wanting a hefty contract and making his decision to stay when the Washington Commanders were on a plane to go interview him for a second time.
Johnson didn't go into specifics about what was true and what wasn't, but he did make it clear that not all of it was true.
“There was, in my opinion, some false narratives going on out there, and it started toward the end of last year before I made the decision to pull out,” Johnson said. “That comes with the territory. I’m good with that. That’s part of life in the NFL, so doesn’t affect me. I do feel for the people around me. I hate that my family would ever read stuff that’s not necessarily the case, but they handled it really, really well. So, support staff’s there from that regard.
“I think I sleep well at night knowing what happened, how it happened, why it happened. I’m good there. And the people that are closest to me, they know who I am and what I’m about. So, it’s all good.”
